Effect of TECAR Therapy on Pain, Balance, and Quality of Life in Elderly Men With Knee Osteoarthritis

Eighty elderly men diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis will be recruited from physical therapy and orthopedic outpatient clinics. Following a baseline screening, patients will be randomly assigned into two parallel groups:

The Study Group: Will include 40 men participating in true TECAR therapy plus a standardized traditional physiotherapy program for 8 weeks.

The Control Group: Will include 40 men participating in sham TECAR therapy plus the same traditional physiotherapy program for 8 weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical and radiographic diagnosis of mild and moderate bilateral or unilateral knee osteoarthritis meeting the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria.
• Presence of chronic knee pain lasting for more than 6 months.
• Ability to ambulate independently with or without an assistive device.

Exclusion criteria

• Severe knee osteoarthritis (grade IV) requiring imminent surgical joint replacement.
• History of previous knee arthroplasty, internal fixation, or significant trauma to the affected lower extremity.
• Presence of pacemakers, metallic implants in the knee region, or severe. - peripheral vascular disease (absolute contraindications for TECAR therapy).
• Intra-articular injections (corticosteroids, platelet-rich plasma, or hyaluronic acid) into the knee within the past 3 months.
• Cognitive impairment or systemic inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).